Kyiv in History

Is inaugurated as President of Ukraine.

Announces the dissolution of the eighth Verkhovna Rada during his inaugural address.

Meets parliamentary leaders to discuss dissolving parliament and holding an early election.

His Servant of the People party wins the early parliamentary election.

Addresses the crash of Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 and demands a full investigation.

Addresses the coronavirus emergency and backs national restrictions intended to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Welcomes another exchange that returns Ukrainians held in the occupied parts of Donbas.

Signs legislation establishing a regulated agricultural land market in Ukraine.

Signs banking legislation designed to prevent former owners from reclaiming insolvent banks.

Welcomes the start of additional ceasefire measures along the Donbas contact line.

Uses the UN General Debate to call for withdrawal of Russian-backed forces and restoration of Ukraine's borders.

Places the proposed Crimea Platform on the international agenda as a mechanism for deoccupation diplomacy.

Initiates a five-question nationwide public poll held alongside local elections.

Enacts National Security and Defense Council sanctions targeting Viktor Medvedchuk and associated interests.

Approves Ukraine's Military Security Strategy focused on comprehensive defense and closer NATO cooperation.

Holds his first presidential phone conversation with Joe Biden and discusses security and democratic reform.

Signs legislation defining the rights of indigenous peoples of Ukraine.

Opens the inaugural Crimea Platform summit with delegations from dozens of countries.

Leads national events marking thirty years since Ukraine declared independence.

Hosts European Union leaders at the twenty-third EU-Ukraine summit in Kyiv.

Signs the law intended to limit excessive oligarchic influence on politics and public life.

Directs Ukrainian armed resistance during the opening day of the Russian invasion

Addresses Ukrainians after Russia launches its full-scale invasion and pledges national resistance.

Orders general mobilization after Russia begins the full-scale invasion.

Helps organize Kyiv's civic defense during the Russian assault.

Declares martial law after Russia launches its full-scale invasion.

Commands Ukrainian armed forces during the opening invasion.

Helps command the defense of Kyiv against Russian forces.

Helps organize civil defense and curfew measures in Kyiv as Russian forces advance

Appears in central Kyiv with senior officials to show that the government remains in the capital.

Signs Ukraine's application for membership of the European Union.

Appeals for sanctions, weapons and diplomatic support.

Addresses the European Parliament and urges the European Union to prove that it stands with Ukraine.

Addresses the British Parliament by video and vows that Ukraine will continue resisting Russia.

Addresses Canada's Parliament and appeals for stronger military and economic support.

Addresses the United States Congress by video and appeals for further military assistance.

Addresses the German Bundestag and urges Germany to take stronger action against Russia.

Addresses Israeli lawmakers and appeals for greater support for Ukraine.

Tells Italian lawmakers that isolating Russia economically is essential to ending the invasion.

Addresses French lawmakers and appeals for sanctions, weapons and international solidarity.

Addresses NATO leaders and asks for unrestricted military assistance to defend Ukrainian cities.

Calls on Denmark to tighten sanctions and support the restoration of Ukraine's territorial integrity.

Addresses Norway's Parliament and asks for support against Russian aggression and energy coercion.

Asks Dutch lawmakers for weapons, sanctions and support for Ukraine's future inside the European Union.

Addresses Australia's Parliament and requests additional military assistance.

Initiates a special national and international mechanism to investigate crimes committed during the invasion.

Addresses Romania's Parliament after visiting liberated communities around Kyiv.

Addresses Spain's Cortes Generales and seeks weapons and stronger sanctions.

Addresses the United Nations Security Council and demands accountability for atrocities discovered in Bucha.

Urges Ireland to support stronger sanctions and help rebuild Ukraine after Russian attacks.

Addresses Greece's Parliament and discusses the destruction of Ukrainian cities including Mariupol.

Addresses South Korea's National Assembly and asks for equipment and support against Russian aggression.

Addresses Portugal's Assembly of the Republic and calls for stronger international action.

Announces the start of an evacuation operation for civilians trapped at the Azovstal steelworks.

Joins G7 leaders by video and urges continued defense support and sanctions against Russia.

Welcomes United States Lend-Lease legislation intended to accelerate support for Ukraine.

Addresses the World Economic Forum and calls for sanctions, reconstruction support and investment in Ukraine.

Addresses European Council leaders and urges unity on sanctions and support for Ukraine.

Welcomes the European Council decision granting Ukraine candidate status for European Union membership.

Announces arrival of HIMARS systems in Ukraine.

Addresses G7 leaders meeting in Germany and asks for security guarantees and additional weapons.

Addresses the Ukraine Recovery Conference and outlines principles for rebuilding the country.

Presents five conditions for peace, including punishment for aggression, protection of life and restoration of territorial integrity.

Signs Ukraine's request for accelerated accession to NATO.

Addresses the G20 summit and presents a ten-point Ukrainian Peace Formula.

Presses allies to provide modern battle tanks.

Hosts European Union leaders for a summit focused on accession reforms and wartime support.

Is dismissed from a Donbas command role.

Welcomes the International Criminal Court arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin.

Ukraine begins using Patriot air defense systems.

Condemns the destruction of the Kakhovka dam as flooding spreads through southern Ukraine.

Warns of environmental damage after Kakhovka dam destruction.

Zelensky announces Reznikov will be replaced as defence minister.

Resigns as Ukraine's defence minister

Appointed defence minister of Ukraine

Parliament approves Umerov as defence minister.

Confirms that Ukraine has used United States-supplied ATACMS missiles.

Warns that the war has moved toward positional warfare and stalemate

Welcomes the European Council decision to open European Union accession negotiations with Ukraine.

Signs a long-term security cooperation agreement with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Appointed commander in chief of Ukraine's armed forces

Zelenskyy appoints Syrskyi commander in chief.

Leaves the commander in chief role after leading wartime defense.

Replaces Valerii Zaluzhnyi with Oleksandr Syrskyi as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.

Promises to preserve soldiers' lives after taking command.

Establishes a long-term strategic security partnership with Justin Trudeau covering defense, resilience and reconstruction support.

Concludes a ten-year pact with Giorgia Meloni covering military assistance, reconstruction and consultations after future aggression.

Reports major Russian strikes on energy infrastructure.

Signs legislation intended to strengthen mobilization for Ukraine's armed forces.

Is appointed to replace Yurii Sodol.

Is dismissed after criticism of battlefield command.

Leads National Guard forces during the war.

Says Ukrainian forces control about one thousand square kilometres in Russia's Kursk region.

Presents a five-point Victory Plan to the Verkhovna Rada.

Warns partners about North Korean support for Russia.

Says North Korean troops are involved with Russian forces in the Kursk region

Expands drone procurement for Ukraine's armed forces.

Welcomes the signing of a United States-Ukraine minerals and reconstruction investment agreement.

Proposes a ceasefire lasting until a direct meeting with Vladimir Putin can be arranged.

Says about ten thousand Russian troops are fighting in the Kursk region

Works on wartime defense procurement and international assistance.

Presses allies for weapons, sanctions and accountability.

Marks four years since Russia's full-scale invasion and calls for sustained international support.

Visits the damaged Kyiv Pechersk Lavra after a Russian strike and condemns the attack on Ukrainian heritage.

Oversees Ukrainian military pressure as long-range drone strikes reach Russian energy targets

Defends Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy infrastructure as retaliation for Russia's war

Warns that continued Russian strikes will bring intensified Ukrainian retaliation against Moscow.